Who are the pure in heart? They are not necessarily the most religious people. As I mentioned earlier, the religious establishment in Jesus' day were the ones who should have had this pure, pristine walk with God. But their hearts were not right with the Lord, and they did not point others to God by their lifestyles or teachings. They were so concerned with purity of externals that they neglected the real purity that matters, which is purity of the heart. Jesus focused so intensely on being right on the inside that it brought Him into direct conflict with those who were consumed with being right on the outside. If you critique or question other people's religious externals, you better prepare for anger, hostility, and punishment.
Hear the words of our Lord in
Matthew 23:27-28:
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Jesus was not impressed then, nor is He today, with religious forms and structures that create unnecessary barriers.
Jesus is more concerned with your heart, your inner man or woman. For if you keep God boxed in outward appearances and never give Him the reigns of your life, then Satan has you living the mediocre life, not the blessed life that Jesus offers.
What do the pure in heart receive?
They receive two things, according to Jesus in
Matthew 5:8. First, they receive the blessed,
makarios level of living. The pure in heart have inner joy, peace, and contentment, and they are at peace with God and their fellow man. They don't have time to maintain regrets. They are satisfied and they are happy, in the truest and most sublime meaning of the word.
Second, they see God. The Greek word translated "see" is
optanomai, which is the root of English words like optic, optometrist, and ophthalmology. It relates to eyes and vision, but what does it mean to see God? There are two dimensions or realities in seeing God. First, there is the temporal reality, and second, there is the eternal reality of seeing God.
Those who have pure hearts see God at work here on this earth. They have seen Him by faith at work in their own hearts and lives. They see God in nature, in history, and in His involvement and dealings in their everyday lives. We can only see God with the eyes of faith, but the moment we believe, then our eyes are opened to the incredible vistas of His handiwork in, around, above, and through us. (See
Lloyd-Jones, p. 97.) What some attribute to mere chance, you see as the intervention of God.
The second aspect of seeing God deals with the eternal state. One glorious day, the follower of Jesus Christ will behold the Triune God in His glory—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We shall see Him. Doesn't that thrill your soul?! We shall see Him, and this wonderful truth captures us and motivates us to live pure lives in preparation for that great day. "What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see. When He takes me by the hand and leads me to that Promised Land; what a day, glorious day, that will be."
Apple
Spotify
Stitcher
YouTube
